Agitating and dispensing unit



April 1950 H. A. DE PHILLIPS ETAL 2,504,009

AGITATING AND DISPENSING UNIT Filed July 27, 1946 I IIIJJU N W N' r' INi EN'IURS 31 flan g 17. J! iii 10w llara/d Viz/it a a M BY A MORNEYS Patented Apr. 11, 1950 AGITATING AND DISPENSING UNIT Henry A. De Phillips, Nutley, N. J and Harold J. Vath, Westhaven, Conn.; said Vath assignor to said De Phillips Application July 2'7, 1946, Serial No. 686,797

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an agitating and dispensing unit and, particularly, to a combined agitating and eduction unit for use in connection with drums, vats and the like, the contents of which are liquid materials such as paints, lacquers and varnishes.

In the paint, lacquer and varnish manufacturing and spraying art, for example, where batches of paint, lacquer and/or varnish are to be supplied through a spray gun unit, it has been customary to feed such material to the spray unit by gravity, or by cup or by a pressure tank unit where it is necessary to utilize a compressor unit for feeding the material under a pressure of about 75 to 80 lbs. per sq. in.

In order to improve upon the above features of the art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact unit for agitating paint, lacquer, varnish or like mixtures for thoroughly distributing the solid particles throughout the vehicle, and ultimately force the eduction of the agitated mixture from the container in which agitated so as to be used subsequently for spraying and coating purposes.

It is another object of this invention to provide a unit for connection with containers for agitating and evacuating the contents from said drums and containers under pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an easily operable and attachable compressed air conducting unit in combination with a container for agitating and educting the contents of the container under the influence of air pressure in the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of a unitary construction combined with a container for initially agitating the contents, and then forcing said contents from the container by means of ai pressure regulably passed through the means into the container so as to permit subsequent use of the educted contents from the container for spraying and similar purposes.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is an elevational partly sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as used; and

Fig. 2 is a section of a detail taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout, a bung I provided with an externally threaded portion H is adapted for connection with the internally threaded opening l2 of a drum or keg l3. It is to be noted that said drum is preferably of the heavy gage type having a reinforced eye-wash, welded and crimped cap on top, said drum being used in the paint and like industries whereby bulk quantities of such materials are transported.

Said bung i0 is provided with three openings, namely, l4, l5 and I6, for connection therewith of certain parts as will be hereinafter more fully described. In connection with opening [4 of said bung is a tubular member I! extending to the bottom of the interior of the drum. Projecting outwardly of the bung and upwardly from the tubular member i1 is a tube l8 connected to a two-way valve l9. Said valve is also connected to an air intake regulator 20 which, in turn, is adapted to be connected at its end 2| with a source of air pressure, not shown. The air regulator is further provided with a pressure gage 22 connected thereto in the usual manner, as shown, so as to indicate the pressure of the air passing through the regulator 20. The air flow, furthermore, may be easily controlled by means of manually operable member 23 in said regulator 20.

Said valve I9 is further connected, as shown, at right angles to tube l8 and in line with regulator iii] to a safety valve 24 which is also connected by means of an extension tube 25 to opening i5 of said bung i0. Said valve 24 may be adjusted so as to permit the escape of excess air under pressure when said pressure in the container I3 exceeds, for example, 5 to 10 lbs.

As shown in Fig. 2, it will be noted that the housing for valve 19 is provided with three passages, 26, 2? and 28 respectively, while the valve member itself is provided with two passages, namely, 29 which extends the full diameter of the valve, and 30 which meets with and is set at right angles to said passage 29. It is to be further noted that said tube 25 merely extends into the opening i5 of the bung in contrast to the tubular member I? which extends to the bottom of the container i3.

Mounted in opening l6 of bung I0 is an eduction tubular member 3| which extends to the bottom of said container I3. Extending upwardly and outwardly from said member 3| is a tube 32 containing a manually operable valve 33 adapted to control the flow therethrough of material 34, such as paint or lacquer, in the container l3. Said tube 32, it will be noted, is adapted for connection to a feed line, not shown, for subsequent use of the contents 34 being forced out of said drum l3.

In order to operate the device of the present invention, as shown, with drum l3, the material contents 34 are initially agitated so as to obtain a uniform mixture before it is forced or educted from the drum l3. Valve 33 is turned to the closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, and valve I9 is in the vposition, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby air entering. through the regulator by means of opening 2i passes through passages 26, and 29 and through passage 21 into the member I! to the bottom of the container l3 whereupon air bubbles disseminating through the material 34 of the drum agitate and stir the solid particles of the mixture to uniformly distribute them throughout the total mass of the material 34 in the container. Any excess pressure that is built up in the drumescap'es through outlet of safety valve 24. This operation is continued until agitation of the solid particles throughout the material 34 is completed, whereupon both valves is and 33 are turned 90 to the left in the drawing with the respective handles in horizontal position whereupon the air entering through passage 25 passes completely through passage 29 into tube 25 and in turn to the air space above material 34 in container l3. The pressure in said container is built up sufiiciently to force the material 34 upwardly through tubular member 3| and through valve 33 to a connecting unit, not shown, which leads to a spray gun where the material 34 is to be further used.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it will be noted that a simply operated, compact, economic and highly eflicient unit is provided which can be easily attaohed to drums of the type characteristic of the paint, lacquer and varnish arts and functions with little or no trouble and at a minimum of expense. Furthermore, this device, as shown, is safe and easy to handle.

The invention furthermore provides for automatically shutting off the feed line when agitating the ingredients in material 34 and vice versa. The air pressure, furthermore, is controlled on the different lines by means of the dual valve control unit for agitating and feeding the agitated contents of the drum. Furthermore, the bubble mixer is controlled by the safety outlet valve2 i. It willbe noted that, when the device in connection with drum I3 is .not in use, the air, pressure remaining in the drum may be released in various ways, preferably by. inserting a release petcock or valve in the bung. of the drum, by releasing the connection in the safety valve 24 orby relieving the air. pressureby continuously operating therspray gun nozzle.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in connection with the accompanying drawings, various changes or modifications as to form, arrangement of parts and structure may be made without departing from'the'spirit andscopeof the claims as contained herein.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for. connection to a container for paints, lacquers and the like, adapted'for agitatingand expelling the contents therefrom under pressure, comprising a closure member for the container having an .air inflow regulator for connection with a source ofair, a gagein connection with saidregulator, a'tube member connected to andextending through the closure member to the bottom of said container, operable valve means interconnecting said regulator and the tube member adapted to direct the flow of air therethrough into the tube and agitate the contents of the container, a by-pass safety unit in connection with said closure member and the valve, having conduit means extending from the closure member adapted to permit the escape of. excess air: under pressure. from the container through the conduit means andthe unit during the agitation of the contents in the container,

- and a valve controlled tube member extending through the closure member into the container adapted to educt the contents of the container when the first noted valve is actuated accordingly..

2. Aremovableunit for connection with a container for paints, lacquers and the like, adapted to agitate'and force the contents therefrom, comprising a closure member for mounting on the container, an air flow regulator, a pressure gage connected to said regulator, means extending through the closure member into the container and toward the bottom of the container, valve means interconnecting said regulator and extendingmeans to permit the flow of air therethrough into the container and agitate the contents thereof, a, by-pass safety unit having a conduit in connection with said closure member and the valve adapted to permit the escape of excess air under pressure from the container through said conduit during the agitation of the contents in the container and permit the flow of air therethrough into the container to force the contents therefrom, and valve controlled means extending through the closure member intothe container adapted to eductth'elcontents of the container when the first noted valve is actuated whereby the air is by-passed through the safety unit intothe area above'the contents.

3. A removable unit for connection with a'container adapted, for agitating and .forcing the contents therefrom, comprising closure means attachableto .the container having an air pressure regulator for connection with a source of air, tubular means extending through the closure means into the container and toward the bottom of the container, selectively operated valve means interconnecting said regulator and tubular means for directing the flow, of airinto the contents and agitate the same,.a by-pass safety unit having separately disposed conduits, one in connection with said closure member and the other with'the valve, adapted to permit the escape of excess air under pressure fromthe container during the agitation of the contents in the container, anda'valve controlled tube member extending through the memberinto the container adapted to educt the contentsof the contain'er'when the first "noted valveis'actuated accordingly, to permit the air under pressure to pass to. the top of the'contents in the container and forces the'contents from the container.

4. The combination with a drum for paints, lacquers and the like, of a' removable closure memb'er'containing a-plurality of separate, independently operable tubular members extending short of the bottom of the interior of said container, saftymeans connected to the closure member and in communication with the container adapted to permit escape of excess air under pressure'fromthe'container, air pressure regulable means in connection with one of the tubular members adapted to permit agitation of "the-contentsof the container, a valve memberin connection with-thesecond tubular memberadaptedto permit the eductionof'the contents through said member when said valve is accordingly adjusted, and conduit means having a valve interconnectibly disposed intermediate the air pressure means and safety means adapted to selectively utilize the air passing therethrough for agitating the contents of the container and for forcing the contents from said container.

5. The combination with a drum, of a removable bung containing a plurality of separate, independently operable tubular members extending short of the bottom of the interior of said container, pressure regulable means in connection with one of the members in the bung and adapted to permit flow of air therethrough to agitate thecontents in the container, a bypass unit in connection with the bung at one end, and in right angled connection with the pressure regulable means, and a valve member in connection with the pressure regulable means intermediate the tubular member and the bypass unit adapted to permit the eduction of the contents through the other tubular member when said valve is accordingly adjusted.

6. Apparatus for connection with a container for paints, lacquers and the like adapted to agitate and expel the liquid contents from said container, comprising a closure member adapted to seal an opening in the container, a plurality of separate conduits extending from the member to the bottom of the container, a combined safety blow oil or by-pass unit in connection with the member, adjustable means interconnecting one of the conduits with the blow off unit for alternately directing the flow of air under pressure into the tube and blow off unit, and manually operable means in connection with the other tubular member adapted to permit the eduction of the contents through said member when the air is directed through the blow off unit.

7. Apparatus in combination with a container for lacquers, paints and the like, comprising a two-way air valve unit, a removable sealing member for the container, tubular means in connection with the valve unit, mounted onto the sealing member and extending to the bottom of the container, a safety blow-off unit connected to said sealing member and communicating with said valve unit, and another valve controlled tubular means extending through the sealing member into the bottom of the container adapted to conduct the contents from the container when air is by-passed through the valve into the blowoff unit and forced onto the surface of the contents in the container.

8. In combination with a container for lacquers, paints, enamels and the like, agitating and blowing apparatus containing pressure regulating means for connection with a source of air supply, an air conduit extending into the interior of the container, a two-way valve interconnecting the regulator means and the air conduit for agitating the contents of the container, a blow-oil unit in communication with the container and the valve, said valve being disposed between the regulating means and the blow-off unit whereby the contents after being agitated are forced through said valve controlled unit, and another valve controlled conduit extending to the bottom of the container adapted to permit flow of the contents of the container therethrough when the container is to be emptied.

9. In combination with a movable container for paints, lacquers and the like, apparatus comprising air flow regulating means for connection with a source of air supply, an air conduit communicating with the regulating means and extending into the container, a blow-off unit in connection with the container, a two-Way valve interconnecting the regulator means and the blow-01f and adapted to permit selective flow of air through the air conduit and the blowoff unit into the container, and an exit conduit extending to the bottom of the container adapted to exhaust the contents of the container when air under pressure is forced into the container via the blow-off unit.

10. Removable apparatus for use in combination with a container for paints, lacquers, and the like, comprising a bung, a plurality of separate independently operable tubular members extending from the bung to the bottom of the container, a by-pass safety unit having a tube connected to the bung for communicating with the interior of the container, multiple way valve means interconnecting one of the tubular members and the safety unit, pressure regulable means in connection with said valve means adapted to permit the selective flow of air therethrough into said last named tubular member to agitate the contents of the container and upon selective operation of the multiple way valve means to by-pass air through the safety unit connection into the container to exert pressure against the surface of the contents, and another valve member in connection with the other tubular member to permit eduction of the contents in the container when air is passed into the container through the safety unit tube.

HENRY A. DE PHILLIPS. HAROLD J. VATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 873,345 Canniif Dec. 10, 1907 928,374 Ford et al July 20, 1909 1,506,089 Schuster Aug. 26, 1924 1,769,904 Bagley July 11, 1930 2,224,741 Melrick et al Dec. 10, 1940 

